UNION PRINCIPLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 482, 11 October 1928, Page 7

UNION PRINCIPLES

PLAYING MAN’S PART SECURING VOICE IN INDUSTRY The comments of an American journal on trade unionism are topical in view of the Auckland Tramways Union’s “silver jubilee” celebrations recently. “There is no institution like trade unionism,” it says. “The trade unionist believes in saving himself. All other movements that he is asked to accept are based on the ‘let-me-save-you’ theory. The politi-cal-action advocate would lead workers into his promised land. The employer has welfare schemes, his ‘American’ plan and his company ‘upion.’ Both pledge everything to the worker but ownership in himself. They would have the workers depend on them. “The trade unionist rejects the political zealot and paternalism of employers. They are the modern serf concept. The trade unionist has faith in himself. He rises to the dignity of manhood and insists on a voice in conditions whereby he earns a living for himself and dependents. “With this as his base, he expands his activity into every field of life. He progresses, day by day, just as far and as fast as his intellectual capacity will permit. “Development of the individual worker, through collective action, is slow and imperceptible to surface observers. It is the one thing that distinguishes trade unionism from all other movements. “Workers in times have united but they accepted the serf ideal. They did not demand a voice in industry and in moulding a sound public opinion that is the basis of law. “Talk of a ‘conservative’ or a ‘radical’ trade unionist is word-play. The trade unionist who understands his philosophy does not depend on emotionalism. He has no faith in soulstirring appeals that cause men to soar to dizzy heights or who are led to believe there are easy roads to a better day. “The trade unionist. plumbs the depths of life. He knows social viewpoints are changed through continuous agitation. Trade ur-ion opponents are well aware of its slow, glacier-like purpose. The so-called ‘radical,* with I his ‘let-me-lead-you’ plea, and the re- . actionary employer with his serf ideal, ! make common cause in checking the I intellectual development and collective I capacity of workers. ' “Let no trade unionist be affected |by terms. ‘Conservative’ and ‘”adicai’ i mean nothing. Principle alone counts, j “Trade unionists should cling to the philosophy of organising the workers, ;of expanding their intellect, of devel- ! oping their collective capacity. These S will equip them for playing a man’s I part in approximating ideals in Jef- ; ferson’s Declaration.”